title: [Usefulness of the histologic and microbiologic study of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin].
abstract: Since the usefulness of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin is still controversial, we analyzed the charts of 54 patients with fever of unknown origin in whom histological and microbiological studies of a liver biopsy were performed. The cause of fever was established in 43 (80%) patients and it was most frequently of an infectious origin (52%). Histological analysis of liver biopsy was useful in determining the final diagnosis in 26 patients (48%) and was the main/only diagnostic method in a third of them. It was useful even in patients with no evidence of hepatic disfunction. Microbiological analysis of liver biopsy was positive in 7 cases (25% of infectious causes). We consider that liver biopsy should be performed early in the work-up of patients with fever of unknown origin.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición, Salvador Zubirán, México, D.F.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Páez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Tsao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sifuentes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
vernacular_title: Utilidad del estudio histológico y microbiológico de la biopsia hepática en el diagnóstico de la fiebre de origen desconocido.